Dear Grandpa,
My high school is buzzing with the news that the quarterback and the cheerleading captain aborted their baby. I know that abortion is wrong, and I've been telling my friends that. But I don't know what to say about some things they tell me. Aren't there times when abortion is the best option? Like when teenagers are pregnant. How can teens with kids go to college or even finish high school? If I had a baby now, it would ruin my life. I can't believe that anyone who loved me would want that. Not for me or the baby. Tell me again why abortion isn't right.
I love you.
Denali

Dear Denali,
What a shame that high-profile students in your school chose to act like they were married. Then, worse yet, they chose to make their baby pay for their sin by killing it. I grieve for that baby. I grieve for the many children who are about to die because teens in your school will follow their example. How glad I am that God has given you a role in changing that.

I can tell you've thought a lot about this. I suspect you're remembering your cousin Claudia and little Justin. We were all surprised—including Claudia—at her pregnancy. Though she was—and still is—a Christian, she let part of her walk with Jesus slip. Making mistakes has consequences. The best way to avoid them is to live as God wants. Life as a 22-year-old has not turned out the way Claudia planned. Her dreams of becoming a surgeon, traveling the world, and setting up medical clinics wherever she went won't ever happen. Raising Justin as a single mom has been very hard—hard at work, hard at home, and hard at school. But think of the greater tragedy if Justin had become an abortion victim.

God's Fifth Commandment addresses abortion. His command is "You shall not murder." Murder is taking another human being's life. It is an affront to God because killing robs people of the time God intended for them to live on earth, to come to faith in him, and to live out their faith to benefit others. But avoiding murder doesn't mean we can do anything we want to people as long as we don't end their lives. God insists that we help others. He demands that we assist them in staying healthy. God wants us to be his hands and feet as we feed the hungry, comfort the grieving, and visit the lonely and the sick.

The reason we want to keep this commandment? It's first of all because our God has assigned value to us and all others—so much value that he sent his Son to purchase our forgiveness.

Think of it: Our God has done everything to enhance and defend our lives forever. We don't deserve that. Our far-from-perfect days scream out for punishment in hell's permanent night. Through Jesus our sins are completely locked away, and heaven is completely opened.